Even though it’s almost always up to your personal preferences, there is very little room for error when it comes to brewing. But not to worry! Our master blenders are here to provide a few pointers to help you out and to make your tea taste better.
Water
The water used for making tea should be boiled only once, and if possible, it must have a low calcium carbonate content. If the water is boiled more than once, the oxygen level in it gets reduced, and that affects the taste. Whereas, water with less ‘hardness’ allows tea notes to come through easily, thereby ensuring a truly wonderful flavour.
Brewing Black Tea
Black tea is the perfect start to the day for many people around the world. And, if you are not careful enough, you might end up losing its lively essence. The key here is that while making black tea, you should stand by the kettle, ready to pour as soon as it’s boiled. When brewed close to the boiling point, the black tea tastes better as its rich and robust flavour starts to kick in.
Brewing Green Tea
Green tea boasts a distinct flavour, but sometimes it develops a bitter taste. An avoidable lapse during the preparation is the reason for the bitterness. It is always better to allow the kettle cool down for up to two minutes before putting the tea leaves to allow the temperature to reach the optimal 80oC.
Milk
When making tea in a mug or cup, the perennial question is whether to put milk in the vessel before or after adding the hot water. The simple answer is “after”, because if you are doing it the other way round, milk cools the water down, hence hindering all the important infusion process. But if you are using a tea pot, milk can be added first, since this helps prevent the cup from cracking.
Time
Patience plays a huge factor while using tea bags. You should leave the tea bag in the water for about two minutes so that there is ample time for it to infuse the tea flavor. Poking and prodding should be avoided, let the process happen naturally and slowly.
| Type | Duration |
|---|---|
| Black Tea | Brew for 2-3 minutes |
| Green Tea | Brew for 1-2 minutes |
| Fruit and Herbal Infusion | Brew for 3-5 minutes |
Temperature
Irrespective of whether you brew in a teapot or cup, the brew should be allowed to cool down for around 2-3 minutes, after removing the tea bags. Because, once the temperature reduces, the flavours start to develop and deliver a better quality taste.
Sweeten
If you are looking to sweeten your tea, it is best to use white or brown sugar, or honey.
